Better Results using Proportions and Angles

Provincial Vista from the Village

Oil on Linen - 16x20"

I just wrote a short lesson for my classes and decided to post it, even though I haven't taken photos to help with it. I will do some demonstrations in class and ask one of the students to take some photos. So I'll just add those later. 

I painted this scene upon my return from France a couple of years ago after spending two weeks painting in the Villages of Provence. It was like going back in time to walk the cobble stones among the old 15^th century buildings.

BETTER RESULTS using PROPORTIONS and ANGLES

To paint well we must first learn to see well. Part of that learning curve is the necessity to learn how to see and draw proportions and find the angles of our subject.

Really it is just learning how to measure what we see rather than just eyeballing it. I have seen paintings that would otherwise be very nice, but it is always obvious to the viewer when something is “off”.

This can be done free hand using only your brush and your view catcher. Set up a simple two object still life and let’s get started.

1.     First I do a simple thumbnail sketch using a black Prismacolor pencil to block in my composition and values, relying on my view catcher.

2.     After I turn to my canvas and wash in a transparent tone, I am ready to measure my proportions and angles.  

3.     I need to look through my view catcher again, this time use the sides of the opening edges to find the location of the objects. (note*-the proportion of the canvas must be the same as the view catcher, if it is not, change it to match the canvas you will be painting on.) When I say use the sides, compare where to top of the object is in relation to the top/botton and left and right sides of the edges. Mark these one at a time. Do this first for the composition as a whole, and then for each object in your set up.

Note: To make sure the perspective is correct, I extend my arm fully each time I look through the view catcher or brush, then close one eye, and make sure that I stay in the same position while looking at the subject.

4.     Now connect the dots with a light line of paint. This is your composition. Does it fit onto the canvas the way you want it to?

Note: You will have made this decision in your thumbnail sketch, so check to make sure it is approximately the same. Now is the time to move it if you decide.

5.     Now put down the view catcher and begin to look for the proportion of the objects. Your marks are in place. This is an estimate. Now use your brush to find the proportion – which is a measure of increments. You will need to choose an obvious unit of measure, (a length or width of something important in the subject – such as the width of an apple – that you will compare to the width and height of another object in the set up.

Note: Hold your brush and with your thumb and index finger, line it up with the tip and the edge of your object, and compare the distance to the opposite edge, this could be top/bottom or right to left edge. Use this same unit of measure to get the height and width of the other objects.

6.     After you measure, check your original marks and adjust as needed. Now begin to connect the marks to make your drawing.

Note: You will need to learn how to find the angles at this point using your brush the same way as before, only now you are tilting your brush to line up with the edge and then bring it to the canvas to record it. Just mark on your canvas what you observe with your brush.

            **Note: Measure as many times as you need to get the correct proportion. Often you will not get it right the first time, so if you get the feeling that something is off, just measure again. If you continue to use this practice it will become automatic and you will soon be able to accurately depict on canvas what you see. A huge payoff!